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- Joined
- Dec 4, 2009
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- Location
- Pasadena, Texas
I know a 3.9 isn't a 440 but my 95 Dakota ALWAYS ran a bit on the warm side and would go to 220 when in stop and go traffic with the AC on. Flushing the rad when the pump got replaced after it started leaking and installing a 180 stat didn't do a thing. I put up with it for years and then the factory 2 core small tube radiator finally gave up the ghost. A buddy had a single core aluminum radiator laying around and gave it to me. I looked it over for any damage and condition and saw that the tubes in the thing were pretty big....like over 1". It looked ok and it didn't leak when full of water so it got thrown in. It's been in for years now and the old truck never goes over 180 ever, stuck in traffic or driving the crap out of it. I've read that the big tube radiators are much better than and am convinced. In fact, a buddy gave me a 4 core aluminum rad because he said it didn't do the job in his big block Charger but a 3 core aluminum unit does. His 3 core rad has larger tubes and is the same capacity as the old 4 row had.....